Podcast Appearances
Yeah, for sure. So we first brought about our petition to unionize in March of 2023. So that was two years ago, a long time ago, right? But the work for unionization obviously the organizing behind it had started like much before that when i first joined friends it was in september of 22 and i knew that the work had already been like happening the summer before what was the catalyst was post
Yeah, for sure. So we first brought about our petition to unionize in March of 2023. So that was two years ago, a long time ago, right? But the work for unionization obviously the organizing behind it had started like much before that when i first joined friends it was in september of 22 and i knew that the work had already been like happening the summer before what was the catalyst was post
Yeah, for sure. So we first brought about our petition to unionize in March of 2023. So that was two years ago, a long time ago, right? But the work for unionization obviously the organizing behind it had started like much before that when i first joined friends it was in september of 22 and i knew that the work had already been like happening the summer before what was the catalyst was post
COVID, A, obviously a lot of people left given what COVID did to a lot of industries and especially care work. But then likewise, a lot of people were fired and were many would say like fired without like a full on like due process. That included a program manager who was really listening to friends and advocating for the mentor role.
COVID, A, obviously a lot of people left given what COVID did to a lot of industries and especially care work. But then likewise, a lot of people were fired and were many would say like fired without like a full on like due process. That included a program manager who was really listening to friends and advocating for the mentor role.
COVID, A, obviously a lot of people left given what COVID did to a lot of industries and especially care work. But then likewise, a lot of people were fired and were many would say like fired without like a full on like due process. That included a program manager who was really listening to friends and advocating for the mentor role.
And they were let go, which spurred a lot of people to want to start organizing. Some of the issues that we face, like the pay, obviously, within social work in general and nonprofit work, it's never going to match up and never going to really... be as good as like the cost of living, especially here in Portland.
And they were let go, which spurred a lot of people to want to start organizing. Some of the issues that we face, like the pay, obviously, within social work in general and nonprofit work, it's never going to match up and never going to really... be as good as like the cost of living, especially here in Portland.
And they were let go, which spurred a lot of people to want to start organizing. Some of the issues that we face, like the pay, obviously, within social work in general and nonprofit work, it's never going to match up and never going to really... be as good as like the cost of living, especially here in Portland.
But the pay compared to like all of the emotional work and all the work that we do was just not there and not sustainable. It's why people were not like able to stick around because frankly, we were looking at the same issues that our families were facing of like,
But the pay compared to like all of the emotional work and all the work that we do was just not there and not sustainable. It's why people were not like able to stick around because frankly, we were looking at the same issues that our families were facing of like,
But the pay compared to like all of the emotional work and all the work that we do was just not there and not sustainable. It's why people were not like able to stick around because frankly, we were looking at the same issues that our families were facing of like,
you know, food insecurity and needing to like get food stamps or like needing like rental and like housing assistance because our pay was just not up to par. Those are a few of the issues. Jess, I don't know if you have other thoughts.
you know, food insecurity and needing to like get food stamps or like needing like rental and like housing assistance because our pay was just not up to par. Those are a few of the issues. Jess, I don't know if you have other thoughts.
you know, food insecurity and needing to like get food stamps or like needing like rental and like housing assistance because our pay was just not up to par. Those are a few of the issues. Jess, I don't know if you have other thoughts.
Yeah, or even, I mean, it's still something that we're fighting, but our workplace doesn't provide health insurance for dependents, which I think is really ironic given how much we care for kids. And then some of our mentors and other co-workers that have kids have to spend so much money on health insurance for their own personal kids. Friends of some of the kids, apparently. Yeah.
Yeah, or even, I mean, it's still something that we're fighting, but our workplace doesn't provide health insurance for dependents, which I think is really ironic given how much we care for kids. And then some of our mentors and other co-workers that have kids have to spend so much money on health insurance for their own personal kids. Friends of some of the kids, apparently. Yeah.
Yeah, or even, I mean, it's still something that we're fighting, but our workplace doesn't provide health insurance for dependents, which I think is really ironic given how much we care for kids. And then some of our mentors and other co-workers that have kids have to spend so much money on health insurance for their own personal kids. Friends of some of the kids, apparently. Yeah.
That's how this works. The kids, they pick. Yeah, and honestly, like, big picture thinking, like, the reason why we... started this whole unionizing project was because we care so much about our kids, right? When I first started working at Friends, I think was the first mask mentor to be hired in a fairly long time after a lot of firings of other mask mentors.
That's how this works. The kids, they pick. Yeah, and honestly, like, big picture thinking, like, the reason why we... started this whole unionizing project was because we care so much about our kids, right? When I first started working at Friends, I think was the first mask mentor to be hired in a fairly long time after a lot of firings of other mask mentors.